Microhydrodynamics Course | IIT Madras | Low Reynolds Number Flows
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 10 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Mechanical Engineering, Computational Thermo Fluids |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 17 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Microhydrodynamics: Unveiling the World of Tiny Flows
Welcome to the fascinating realm of Microhydrodynamics, a specialized field that studies fluid flow at the micron scale. At this scale, the inertial forces that govern large-scale flows like rivers or aircraft wake become negligible, and viscous forces dominate. This 12-week postgraduate course, offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), provides a deep dive into the principles and applications of these low Reynolds number flows.
Taught by Prof. Anubhab Roy, an expert in geophysical multiphase flows, this course is designed for students and professionals seeking to understand the complex interactions between particles and fluids in environments where every small detail matters—from blood flow in capillaries to the settling of sediment in oceans.
About the Instructor: Prof. Anubhab Roy
Prof. Anubhab Roy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering at IIT Madras. With a Ph.D. from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and postdoctoral experience at Cornell University, USA, Prof. Roy brings a wealth of knowledge in theoretical and numerical analysis of fine-scale processes in atmospheric and oceanic flows. His research focuses on instabilities and particle transport, making him the ideal guide for this advanced course.
Who Should Take This Course?
This course is intended for postgraduate students and professionals in:
- Applied Mechanics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Atmospheric and Ocean Engineering
- Physics
Prerequisite: An introductory course in Fluid Mechanics is required to ensure all participants have the foundational knowledge needed to grasp the advanced concepts covered.
Course Overview and Learning Objectives
Microhydrodynamics is crucial for understanding phenomena in biotechnology (e.g., drug delivery, lab-on-a-chip devices), materials science (e.g., colloidal suspensions, paints), and environmental science (e.g., plankton movement, pollutant dispersion). Over 12 weeks, this course will equip you with the tools to analyze and model these systems.
You will learn the physics behind highly viscous flows, master analytical techniques for solving Stokes flow problems, and understand how the shape and motion of microscopic particles affect their environment and the bulk properties of suspensions.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to viscous flows – Stokes’ approximation, Linearity, reversibility, reciprocal theorem |
| Week 2 | Single particle dynamics I: Sphere in Stokes flow – Rotation, translation |
| Week 3 | Single particle dynamics I: Sphere in Stokes flow – Linear Flow |
| Week 4 | Fundamental singularities, Faxen’s laws |
| Week 5 | Role of fluid inertia - Oseen’s approximation |
| Week 6 | Unsteady Stokes flow, Maxey-Riley Equation |
| Week 7 | Single particle dynamics II – Boundary integral method |
| Week 8 | Single particle dynamics II – Slender body theory |
| Week 9 | Hydrodynamic Interactions - Resistance Mobility Formulation |
| Week 10 | Hydrodynamic Interactions - Method of Reflections |
| Week 11 | Hydrodynamic Interactions - Lubrication Theory |
| Week 12 | Calculation of Suspension Viscosity |
Essential Reference Books
To support your learning journey, the course references several authoritative texts in the field:
- A Physical Introduction to Suspension Dynamics by E. Guazzelli and J. F. Morris, Cambridge University Press
- Colloidal Dispersions by W. B. Russel, D. A. Saville and W. R. Schowalter, Cambridge University Press
- Advanced Transport Phenomena by L. Gary Leal, Cambridge University Press
- Microhydrodynamics and Complex Fluids by D. Barthès-Biesel, CRC Press
- Microhydrodynamics: Principles and Selected Applications by Kim and Karrila, Dover Publications
Why Study Microhydrodynamics?
Mastering microhydrodynamics opens doors to cutting-edge research and development in numerous industries. Whether you aim to design more efficient microfluidic devices, improve the stability of pharmaceutical formulations, or model ecological processes, the principles taught in this course are fundamental. The combination of theoretical foundations and practical numerical tools offered by Prof. Roy's teaching approach will provide you with a significant competitive edge in both academic and industrial careers.
Embark on this 12-week journey to decode the subtle yet powerful world of flows at the microscale. Enroll in this IIT Madras course to build a strong, applicable expertise in the dynamics of viscous-dominated flows and suspension science.
Enroll Now →